Plaster.



TE STTES PLASTEB.

Application filed March 15, 1910. Serial N0. 549,420.

T0 all whom @lt mag; concem:

Be it known that I, WALTER GUTTMAINN, doctor of medicine, of Mlheim-on-the-Ruhr Ger1nnny. a subject 0f the Ring of Prussiu, (und whose post-oflice addlees is 38 Adolfstrasse, Mlheim-on-the-Rnhr, Kingd0m of Prussia. German Empire,) have invented a new and useful Plaster, 0f which t-he following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to medical plasters of any kind, but morespecifically comprises an improved form of adhes1ve plaster.

The object of my invention is to produce a plaster which shall ndt have its effective area 01 medicinal properties substantially reduced, and Which may yet; be 1n01e easily,

expeditiously and painlessl v removed after use. than is possible with the ordinary adhesive plaster.

The ordinary adhesive plaster has a sur face 0f active material which becomes closely attached to the skin of the patientand consequently causes considerable pain in its 1e mova1 because 1t creates a cont1nuous tearing action along the surface of the skin during the operation of ren1oval. This tearing action begins as soon as one edge of the plaster is liftecl from the body of the patient and continues without interruption during the removal operation, f01 which a steady pull 0f muchforce is often required. I avoid this diffieulty by substituting for the continuous adhesive surface 0f the usual form 0f plaster, a surface divided into a large number of small separate areas of such adhesive material, preferably quadrilateral in form, Which are divided one f10n1 the othe1 -by fine border lines of non-adhesive matefial.

The best f0rm at present known t0 1ne embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in Wlllcll,

Figure 1 is a plan view 011 an exaggerated scale of a plaster made according to my invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross section 011 line 22 of Fig. 1.

Throughout tl1e drawings like reference letters indicate like pairts.

a is the back of the plaster formed of cloth or other streng flexible material, and b the active material of adhesive nature, these parts being 0f usual 01 any deSired character. The adhesive surface is divided, according to my inVention, into a large number of small areas, d, preferably of quadrilateral shape as shown.

The dividing lines c are formed 01 some non-adhesive material such as thread, 01 fine cords 01 r1bbons. These 'face 0f the adhesive material to an extent 01 depth which leaves only their upper sur'- faces exposecl. These threads etc. are neually arranged in two sets, the threads of each setbeing substantially parallel and widely spaced apart so that they cover but a small percentage of the surface of the plaster, and the threads of one set running crosswise 0f those 0f the other set. Preferably this is one by forming the two sets of threads into a fine, open mesh nein, as shown in.the drawing, and partially sinking 'said net into the surface of the plaster. v

In operation the efiectivesurface of the plaster is not substantially reduced, but it is divided into aTtge number of separate areas of adhesive material which breaks up the continuity of the tearin action when the plaster is pulled away trom the skin, whatever the direction in which the pul l is applied. 'Ihis materially reduces the pain of the removal operation and facilitates it in every way.

My invention is sharply diflerentiated from the 0ld use of ganze or similar fabric which is temporarily laid over the face 0f adhesive and other plasters bef0re use to prevent them from sticking together 01 to other objects during storage, transportation and handling, and which must always be ren1oved before the plaster is put into use. This old form of ganze forms no permanent part of the plaster as an operative entity ancl in fact pre vents it from operating at all, since it completely covers up the active material and the plas'ter has no adhesive 01' 1nedieinal efiect if applied without.first removing the ganze. In fach this old form of gauze is ueually employed in packing and preparing for shipment plasters of my in vention to perform its 01d function, and ie pulled ofl" .before using theplaster, all in exactly the same way as with the 01d form 0f plaster.

Having, therefore, described my invention, I claim: v

l. The combination with an adhesive from each 0ther and running across theface thereof nd permanently sunk therein t o a depth Which leaves only their upper surfaces exposed.

2. The combination with an adhesive plaster of a series of threads spaced apart threads etc. are pemnanently sunk in the sur- 4 plaster of an Open mesh net of fine thread extending over the face of the active material am]. permanently sank therein to a depth which leaves exposedonly the upper surfaces of the threads formirig the net.

8. The combination with an adhesive plaster of two sets of threads permanently sunk in the face of the adhesivd material to a depth sufficient 150 leave on1y their up er surfaces exposed, the threads of each set eing widely spaced apart, and tho'se of one set running crosswise of those of the o ther set. 

